Apparatus for packaging meat and like products



p 1, 1970 G. A. MIXON 3,526,077

APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING MEAT AND LIKE PRODUCTS Filed Oct. 25, 1968 5Sheets-Sheet 1 FIGZ. M0 M44 5. 7 W? F164.

)NVENTOR GEORGE A. MIXON ATTYS Sept. 1, 1970 G. A. MlXON 3,526,077

APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING MEAT AND LIKE PRODUCTS Filed Oct- 2 1968 5Sheets-Shoat 3 INVENTORI BY GEORGE A. MIXON WWW ' ATTYS APPARATUS FORPACKAGING MEAT AND LIKE PRODUCTS Filed Oct. 25. 1968 G. A. MIXON Sept.1, 1970 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR: GEORGE A. MIXON ATTYS Sept. 1,1970(5. A. MIXON 3, I

APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING MEAT AND LIKE PRODUCTS Filed Oct. 25, 1968 5Sheets-Sheet 5 FIGZE.

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GEORGE A. MIXO N WWW ATTYS INVENTORZ United States Patent 3,526,077APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING MEAT AND LIKE PRODUCTS George A. Mixon, FortLauderdale, Fla., assignor to Mol-Pak Corp., Fort Lauderdale, Fla., acorporation of Florida Continuation-impart of application Ser. No.479,949, Aug. 16, 1965. This application Oct. 25, 1968, Ser. No. 770,530

Int. Cl. A22c 7/00; B65b 25/06, 39/14 US. Cl. 53-123 6 Claims ABSTRACTOF THE DISCLOSURE A method for packaging meat products and the likeconsisting of the steps of slicing a cut of meat of predetermined sizeand shape, positioning the cut of meat in a tray having at least onecavity section with a sidewall slightly smaller than the thickness ofthe cut and a base conforming generally to the cross section of the cutso that the cut of meat fits snugly therein, enveloping the tray and cutin a heat shrinkable filmy material and freezing the packaged meatproduct, an apparatus for packaging cuts of an elongated meat productand the like in open trays comprising an elongated hollow tubular memberof a predetermined cross section conforming generally to the crosssection of the elongated meat product, plunger means engageable in oneend of the tubular member to advance the meat product longitudinallytherein toward the discharge end, a tray support member adjacent thedischarge end for mounting a tray in a vertical position to receive acut of the meat product therein, stationary backup means supporting thetray in a vertical receiving position at the discharge end of thetubular member, cutting means and means for actuating the tubular memberrelative to the cutting means to sever a cut of meat from the mainportion.

This is a continuation-in-part application of my prior application Ser.No. 479,949 filed Aug. 16, 1965 for Method of Standardizing Solid MeatPortions, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to improvements in method and apparatusfor packaging meat products and the like. More particularly, the presentinvention provides an efficient and economical manner of packaging meatproducts wherein all of the meat portions are of substantially the samesize and weight and are frost free to preserve the natural and appealingappearance of the meat product.

In some retail operations, for example large food chain stores, meat andlike products are pre-cut, packaged, weighed and priced and then placedin a refrigeration unit in the store for self-service removal by thecustomer. In some instances, several cuts of meat are placed inoverlapping relation on a fiat cardboard plate, the plate and meat areenveloped in an overwrap of a filmy material such as cellophane andthereafter the packages are frozen by conventional means in a blasttunnel. This technique is commonly referred to as shingle packaging.Several problems are noted in connection with packaging the meatproducts in this fashion. For example, there is a considerable amount ofair space in the package which during the freezing period results indehydration, freezer burns and formation of frost on the inside of thepackage. This, of course, makes it difficult for the consumer to examinethe entire meat product. Furthermore, in some instances it has beenobserved that the meat product discolors and tends to lose its naturalappearance. In some instances the meat product deteriorates to a pointwhere it is not suitable for prime consumer use and, even in iceinstances where it is suitable for such use, the unappealing characterof the product has lost its eye appeal. Additionally, weighing andpricing of each package is time consuming.

The present invention overcomes some of the problems of prior packagingtechniques and in general is much more economical. In accordance withthe present invention," an elongated section of a meat product, forexample'an eye roast, is divided into a plurality of cuts or pieces ofsubstantially the same size and weight. Thereafter, each piece is placedinto a container or tray having a bottom wall conforming generally tothe peripheral shape of the cut and an upstanding sidewall. The sidewallofthe tray is of a height slightly smaller than the thickness of the cutso that when the meat cut is placed in the container, it extendsslightly above the upper edge of the sidewall of the tray. The base ofthe tray is provided with a plurality of spaced grooves providingchannels wherein the meat juices migrate. By this arrangement when thefilm is placed over the top of the container and shrunk to snuglyembrace the top of the meat and thereafter frozen, the package has afrost free appearance. Additionally, since the meat juices are remotefrom the filmy material, the upper surface retains its naturalappearance, and thus the entire package is more appealing to theconsumer. More specifically, by the present invention the meat cut fitssnugly in the tray by reason of the configuration of the tray and thecompression of the meat product during the film shrinking process.Therefore, by eliminating air space and also by providing a reservoirfor the meat juices, there is no dehydration or freezer burning of themeat and a resultant frost free package. Preferably, the trays aretranslucent so that complete examination of the meat product is possibleby the consumer, as contrasted with prior packaging arrangments whereinonly the top surface of the meat is visible. The present invention alsoprovides apparatus for automatically cutting and filling the trays sothat each of a plurality of trays is substantially the same weight,thereby obviating the need for weighing and pricing each package.

These and other objects of the present invention and various featuresand details thereof are hereinafter more fully set forth with referenceto the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a packaged meat product in one form oftray or container in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the container shown in FIG. 1 with the outercover or bag shown in broken lines;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the assembly shown in FIG. 2 illustratingschematically the means for sealing the end of the bag member;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the tray shown in FIG. 2;

(FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the tray shown in FIG. 2;

FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are enlarged sectional views taken on lines 6-6, 77 and88 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of another form of tray in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 10 is an end view of the tray shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectional view taken on lines '1J1-1|1 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a perspective 'view of a meat product packaged in a tray ofthe type shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the apparatus in accordance with thepresent invention for packaging meat or like products;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary side view of a position of the rear terminalend of the apparatus;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the forward end of theapparatus;

FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken on lines 16116 of FIG. 14;

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary end view of the apparatus;

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary plan view of the apparatus showing the positionof the various elements just prior to separating a cut of the meatproduct from the main portion;

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary plan view showing the position of the partsafter slicing a cut from the main portion;

FIG. 20 is a side elevational view of the wedge member; and

FIGS. 21 and 22 are sectional views taken on lines 2121 and 22-22 ofFIG. 20.

The present invention contemplates packaging of meat or like products incontainers in such a manner that the packaged products are ofsubstantially the same size and weight and the package presents a frostfree appearance so that it is appealing to look at and also may beexamined by the purchaser. To this end considering for example thepackaging of cuts of a rib eye, the elongated piece of meat is cut intoa plurality of sections or cuts of a predetermined weight and eachsection of cut is placed into a container, for example of the type shownin FIG. 9. Thereafter, a film preferably of a pliable and transparentmaterial is placed loosely over the open end of the container in contactwith the exposed surface of the meat. The package is then exposed to atemperature high enough to cause the film to shrink so that it fitstightly and in smooth contact over the upper surface of the meat. Inaccordance with one form of the method of the present invention, thefilled trays are placed in bags B made of a heat shrinkable filmmaterial, the open end of the bag is sealed by conventional heatpressure sealing apparatus of the type illustrated in FIG. 3, andthereafter heat shrunk in the manner described above. In lieu of thebag, the tray may be passed between sheets of heat shrinkable materialwhich are cut and sealed to envelope the filled tray.

One form of container or tray suitable for packaging meat products orthe like in the manner described above is illustrated in FIGS. 9-12inclusive. The tray which is generally designated by the numeral 10includes a generally oval-shaped base 12 and an upstanding sidewall 14extending from the peripheral edge of the base i10. The base in thepresent instance has a series of continuous annular spaced apart ribs 16 defining a plurality of spaced channels 18, the outer channel 18abeing spaced from the peripheral sidewall 14. By this arrangement whenthe meat cut, for example, a slice of rib eye is placed in thecontainer, the thickness of the cut is such that it extends slightlyabove the upper peripheral edge of the sidewall 14. Preferably, the trayis made of a translucent material. Thus, when the filled container :10is enveloped in the heat shrinkable film material which in the presentinstance is in the form of a bag 19 and shrunk, the film snugly embracesthe container and compresses the meat cut slightly therein.Additionally, the meat juices migrate to the channels 18 which serve asa reservoir to prevent clouding of the film during the freezingoperation. As noted above, the complete package assembly issubstantially devoid of air space whereby the natural pleasingappearance of the meat product is preserved and the packages are in afrost free condition. Additionally, the ribs serve as strengtheningmembers to prevent the package from buckling during shipment andhandling.

In view of the above, it is clear that the present invention provides anovel and useful improvement in the packaging of meat and like products.The particular manner in which trays are filled and the configurationand arrangement of the trays insures a frost free package whereby theproduct may be examined in its entirety by the consumer. In accordancewith the present invention the natural pleasing appearance of the meatproduct is retained as well as the natural meat juices. Furthermore,with the present invention, meat products may be packaged very rapidlysince weighing and pricing of each package is obviated.

There is illustrated in FIGS. 13-19 apparatus for packaging meat :orlike products in accordance with the present invention. As illustrated,the apparatus includes a meat holder or support assembly generallydesignated by the numeral 20 including a carriage 2 2 which rides on atrack member 24 so that the entire assembly may be actuated relative toa cutter 26 to slice successive cuts or portions of meat in a mannerdescribed in more detail hereafter. The meat holder assembly as bestillustrated in FIG. 13 includes an elongated hollow tubular member 30which at its discharge end mounts an end plate 32 having a dischargeopening 33 therein of generally the same cross section as the tubularmember 30, in the present instance oval-shaped to accommodate a sectionof eye roast. As illustrated in FIGS. 16 and 18 the sidewall of thetubular member 30 is provided with a longitudinal slot 34 extendinginwardly from the inner terminal entrance end of the tubular member toprovide a degree of flexibility when the meat section is insertedtherein. The lower portion 30a of the tubular member extends slightlybeyond the inner edge of the upper portion 30b to provide a deck forloading, the upper portion 30b having a flared edge 35 to facilitateinsertion of the piece of meat.

The apparatus includes means for advancing the meat through the tubularmember including, in the present instance, a piston-like plunger 40-having a plurality of pointed gripping members 41 and being of a crosssection slightly smaller than but of substantially the same crosssection as the tubular member. The piston plunger is actuatabletransversely relative to the tubular member 30 by means of a handle 42slidably mounted on a rod 44 supported at one end on the front end plate32 and its opposite end on a bracket 46 secured to the tubular member asat 48. The handle 42 mounts a generally U-shaped support rod 49 for thepiston plunger so that it may be advanced interiorly of the tubularmember. It is noted that the U-shaped configuration of the support rod49 permits actuation of the plunger in the tubular member from theentrance end to the discharge end, the base 49a of the U-shaped rodentering the slot 34 in the sidewall of the tubular member when thepiston is in its fully extended forward position adjacent the dischargeend as shown in FIG. 18. One leg 49b of support rod 49 extends beyondthe handle 42 to serve as a bumper 51 limiting forward movement of thepiston at its forward limit position.

The meat holder assembly is adapted for mounting on a conventionalcarriage 50 having rollers 53 engageable in the trackway 55 of bed 57.Thus, as illustrated in FIGS. 15 and 18, a bracket 70 is mounted on theback face of the end plate 32 which has an opening to receive a thumbscrew 76 to secure the meat holder assembly to the carriage 5t}.Adjustment means is provided at the opposite end of the tubular member30 to permit it to be secured to carriages of various sizes. Morespecifically, the adjustment means includes a rod 78 carried by brackets80 and 82 mounted on the lower side of the tubular member 30 and anadjusting plate 84 mounting two adjusting screws 86 and 88 adapted toengage the rod and end flange of the carriage respectively.

The meat holder assembly further includes a tray support member adjacentthe discharge end for supporting a tray of the type described above inposition adjacent the discharge opening to receive a cut of meattherein. The tray support member in the present instance is mounted onthe front face of the end plate member 32 in spaced relation thereto topermit engagement of the cutting device in the manner described in moredetail below. The tray support member has a finger portion 59 and anarcuate cradle 61 conforming generally to a portion of the tray so thatthe tray nests therein.

Tray 10 is held in a vertical position on the cradle 61 of tray holder62 by cutting guide 63 which is adjustable along rod 65 to vary thethickness of the cut of meat.

In the position illustrated in FIGS. 15 and 18 the meat is ready to bepassed through the cutting blade 67.

The meat cutting guide 63 in the present instance serves as a back upplate for the tray in the loading position illustrated in FIG. 18.

With the various elements of the apparatus in the position illustratedin FIG. 18, as the meat holder assembly is moved to its forward limitposition, in direction of dashed arrow, the cutting blade 67 slices 8.cut of meat. Simultaneously, the tray is moved beyond the outerextremity of the back up plate of cutting guide 63 whereby it is turnedface up by wedge guide member 90 onto the table top 92, as shown inFIGS. 17 and 19. The table top 92 may have a moving belt-type conveyorto carry the filled trays to another location for further processing.The meat holder assembly is now retracted in the direction of the solidline arrow to a position where the cradle is clear of the cutting guide63 to facilitate loading of the next tray prior to movement of the meatholder assembly in the opposite direction to start a new cycle.

In the present instance a wedge-shaped guide member 90 is aligned withand mounted behind the cutter blade 67 The guide member serves to pivotthe filled tray when the meat holder assembly has been actuated to apoint wherein the cut of meat has been severed from the main portion asdescribed above. The wedge-shaped guide member wedges the meat back intothe tubular holder 30 slightly to afford clearance for the cutting blade67 and preclude jamming upon retraction of the meat holder assembly forthe next cut.

The specific configuration of the wedge-shaped guide member is bestillustrated in FIGS. 20-22 inclusive. As illustrated therein, the guidemember is of generally rectangular shape and has a rear face confrontingthe discharge opening in the meat holder assembly that is glisposed atan angle relative to a plane P through the center line of the wedge,which plane P is disposed perpendicularly to the axis of the tubularmember 30'. By this construction as the meat holder assembly is movedpast the cutting blade 67, the tapered rear face 92, because of itstapered configuration, exerts increased pressure on the end of the meatinto the tubular member 30. The lead edge 94, which is aligned with thecutting blade 67, is of a width no greater than the thickness of theblade. The front face 96 has a contoured portion generally designated bythe number 98, which curves downwardly and outwardly as illustrated inFIGS. 20 and 22. By this configuration the tray is rolled to a face upposition on the table 92 in the manner described above.

Considering now briefly the use and operation of the apparatus describedabove, assume the plunger piston assembly 40 is in a retracted positionaway from the entrance end of the tubular member 30. In this position apiece of meat, for example an eye roast, is placed on the deck 30a andmoved longitudinally into the holder 30. The meat is then pushed intothe tubular member to a point where a small portion thereof extendsbeyond the discharge end.

Piston assembly 40 is then rotated by means of handle 42 about rod 44 sothat the piston member 40 with prongs 41 attached thereto is inalignment with the end of the meat cut. Piston 40 is then moved towardthe meat by means of handle 42 until the spikes 41 enter the end of themeat. With a tray placed in the cradle 61 and with meat guide inposition behind the tray as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, when the meat ismoved by the force of piston 40 pushing against it the opposite end ofthe meat enters tray.

Since tray is slightly larger and of substantially the same shape as themeat, and since pressure is being exerted on the meat from the oppositeend, the meat will contact the bottom of tray and fill the same. Afterthe tray is filled in this manner, the meat holder assembly is movedalong trackway 55 until it contacts cutting blade 67. As it is movedfarther, the meat passes beyond cutting blade 6 67 and in so doing themeat within tray is severed from the main body portion.

As stated above, once the meat holder assembly passes beyond cuttingblade 67 the vertical support 63 is cleared and the filled tray ispivoted by guide wedge to table 92. The filled tray may then be removedby any suitable means to a remote location.

The device may then be moved back on track 55 to a position to receiveanother empty tray. The meat may then be moved into the new tray and thecomplete cycle as described above may be repeated.

Automatic feed means may be provided to successively feed empty trays tothe meat holder apparatus. Further, even though the apparatus isdescribed in connection with a single cavity tray, it is to beunderstood that multicavity trays or containers may also be used bymodifying the apparatus to include a plurality of tubular members or toprovide means at the discharge end for indexing a multi-cavity tray tofill all the cavities thereof.

There is illustrated in FIGS. 1-8 a multi-cavity tray constructed inaccordance with the present invention. The tray 180 is of one piecedesign and is intended for use, for example, for boneless cuts of pork.The tray 180 has in the present instance three side-by-side cavities182a, 182b and 182C, each cavity having a base portion 19011, 19% and1900 conforming generally to the periphery of the meat cut. Each baseportion, for example for the cavity 182a, has a series of continuousribs 192a defining channels 194a for receiving meat juices as describedabove in connection with the single cavity tray. In the present instanceeach cavity has its own peripherally extending sidewall which is notcontinuous but is interrupted to provide relief openings providingstrengthening bridges between adjacent cavities. For example, a singlepassageway opening 199 is provided between cavities 182a and 18217 and aseparate wall section 101 is provided between cavities 182b and 182cwhich, as illustrated, is spaced from the main wall sections to definetwo passageways 103 and 105. The upper edge of adjacent sidewalls of thecavity sections are connected by means of webs W for strength purposes.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for packaging cuts of an elongated meat product and thelike in open trays comprising an elongated hollow tubular member havinga discharge end and being of a predetermined cross section conforminggenerally to the cross section of the elongated meat product, a traysupport member adjacent the discharge end for mounting a tray with itsopen side confronting and in registry with said discharge end to receivea cut of the meat product therein, said tray support member being spacedfrom the discharge end of said tubular member to provide clearance :forthe cutting means, plunger means engageable in one end of the tubularmember to advance the meat product longitudinally therein toward thedischarge end thereby to press the meat product into said tray tocompletely fill the same, means for actuating said tubular memberrelative through a cutting zone and a discharge zone, cutting meansdisposed adjacent the line of movement of the discharge end of saidtubular member, said meat product being engaged by said cutting meansduring actuation through said cutting zone to sever a cut of the meatproduct, back up means confronting and supporting the tray in a positionover the discharge end of said tubular member during actuation of saidtubular member through the cutting zone, said tubular member beingpositioned beyond said back up means upon actuation through saiddischarge zone to permit removal of a filled tray, said back up meansbeing selectively adjustable longitudinally relative to said tubularmember whereby the thickness of a cut of the meat product may beselectively varied.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inner terminal end of thetubular member opposite the discharge end is divided into upper andlower portions by a longitudinally extending slot providing a degree offlexibility for insertion of the elongated meat product, the lowerportion extending slightly beyond the inner edge of the upper portion toprovide a deck for loading and the upper portion having a flared edge.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the plunger means isactuatable by means of a handle slidably mounted on a rod extendinggenerally parallel to the tubular member and connected to the plunger bya U-shaped support member.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tray support memberincludes a finger portion secured at one end to the end plate mounted atthe forward end of the tubular member and an arcuate cradle of aconfiguration to closely conform to the sidewall portion of a tray sothat it nests therein.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 including a wedgeshaped guide memberaligned with and mounted behind said cutting means operable When saidtubular member is-actuated through said discharge zone to pivot a filledtray face up on a table and simultaneously press the meat product in arearward direction in said tubular member to prevent jamming of thecutting means on the end face of the meat product when the tubularmember is being returned to a position for actuation through the cuttingzone.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the guide UNITED STATESPATENTS 1,736,257 11/1929 Douglass 53123 1,984,064 12/1934 Greco 53-1232,092,773 '9/1937 Nordquist 53123 2,092,786 9/1937 Taylor 53-123 X2,851,836 9/1958 Fromwiller 53123 X 2,911,776 11/1959 Sada 53123 X2,977,732 4/1961 Leonard 53124 3,010,499 11/1961 Dahms 53-123 X3,129,546 4/1964 Redmond 53123 X 3,385,208 5/1968 Clegg 53124 3,415,66312/1968 Raschke 99174 3,462,793 8/1969 Sumption 99174 X WAYNE A. MORSE,Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 53124; 99-174

